The MacArthur Foundation nailed it, genius indeed. Everything Thile touches turns to gold. There ain't too many folks who can get up in front of an auditorium with nothing but a mandolin and a very sharp wit and be entertaining for several hours. Truly one of the world's greatest living musicians.
+HC5167 I have asked myself (and anyone in hearing distance) that very question! I think the populace is so dumbed-down that they can't recognize genius.
I think novelty songs these days demonstrate a level of daring--Chris can get away with it because he's clearly talented to the point he doesn't need to take himself seriously, while most big acts just aren't. And really, a lot of pop songs these days are so bad they basically are gag songs. There are days I turn on the top forty and wonder if I'm being punked.
@113186481337050859492 That's exactly why the MacArthur foundation gave Chris Thile the "Genius Grant" of half a million dollars, so that he could be daring. The result is a song that pretty much sums the man up - humor, Bach, and courting women. Actually, where's the whiskey?
I have never been madder in my life that I missed this show. I did get to see him with Michael Daves in May of that year but I still wanted to go see him again. This is so good :33
I'll bet this was a great song to hear at the show, as a break from the 'real' songs. What fun! And the thing with funny/parody/joke songs is that if they don't work musically, they will be hard to listen to more than a few times. They have to be SONGS, first. And this works.
Oh, come on. He just played an entire show of 90% Bach tunes. It's a novelty song. He doesn't have to be completely serious all of the time. Ever heard of John Hartford?
Hey Chris, was it your date or the King of Austria (Amadeus) who told you it was too many notes. P.S. I really groove on the (too?) many notes I've enjoyed from Nickel Creek and beyond.
I went to my wonderful Collings mandolin after seeing this, and berated it, using every single obscenity I could think of for about 10 minutes. It still didn't sound anything like this!!!
I saw him play this at a solo gig at St Lukes in London around the same time. I don't think I've ever seen anybody do anything as well as he plays mandolin. I can take or leave his singing tho.
LMAO...Yep, he's an idiot.....But I'd sure love to play the mandolin like that !! ..lol...And before you start bashing me because I said he's an idiot...You know I don't really mean that...I've admired Chris since I first heard him play..many, many years ago....Is Nickle Creek back together ?
The MacArthur Foundation nailed it, genius indeed. Everything Thile touches turns to gold. There ain't too many folks who can get up in front of an auditorium with nothing but a mandolin and a very sharp wit and be entertaining for several hours. Truly one of the world's greatest living musicians.
He's Bach, Mozart, Jimmy Page and Steve Martin rolled into one mandolin-master package.
The other thing that he amazes with is his apparent enthusiastic encyclopedic knowledge of music of many genres.
G E N I U S ❤
I love that Chris is such an incredible musician but really doesn't take himself too seriously!
I'm so glad that Chris is self-aware.
I wouldn't kick him out of bed.
I mean, I'm straight...but nobody is THAT straight.
yuk0ncornelius This is the great truth
lol
Right?
Chris Thile is the man of my dreams. The end.
I'm not gay but I'd reconsider for Chris 😂
Manager: Hey Chris...how many rugs do you want on stage?
Chris: Yes.
Best comment ever🤣
I doubt anybody's gonna cover that one this week.
hahahahahahahahahahahaha
Chris Thile, teaching us how to get laid via mandolin.
Scorpia161 checking in 3 years later to point out this comment has 69 upvotes and while I like it I can't justify screwing that up
almost upvoted the comment until I saw the number as well... to perfect
Adam Snavely and now I've accidentally screwed it up... oh well, I'm sure it was fun while it lasted
MadelineJean See Bo Burnhams advice on how to do the same with piano
You should hear Lau Noah swoon over his playing in their duet "Lesser Men would call it Love."
Absolutely BRILLIANT!!! Will never understand how this type of genius and talent is mostly hidden from the world.
+HC5167 I have asked myself (and anyone in hearing distance) that very question! I think the populace is so dumbed-down that they can't recognize genius.
@@manitou1954 I agree, people just can’t appreciate and comprehend these kinda things which is the sad truth.
Sometimes I have dreams where Chris Thile and I sit on my porch drinking whiskey and doing crossword puzzles together into the late hours of night
Why don't big-time acts do novelty songs any more? This stuff is great.
There's a lot to be said in favour of incredible musicians putting their skills to delightfully trivial uses.
I think novelty songs these days demonstrate a level of daring--Chris can get away with it because he's clearly talented to the point he doesn't need to take himself seriously, while most big acts just aren't.
And really, a lot of pop songs these days are so bad they basically are gag songs. There are days I turn on the top forty and wonder if I'm being punked.
@113186481337050859492
That's exactly why the MacArthur foundation gave Chris Thile the "Genius Grant" of half a million dollars, so that he could be daring. The result is a song that pretty much sums the man up - humor, Bach, and courting women. Actually, where's the whiskey?
Scorpia161 Wonder no more. You (and all of us) are.
+Nelson Robert Willis they gave him 500000 payed over five years
I have never been madder in my life that I missed this show. I did get to see him with Michael Daves in May of that year but I still wanted to go see him again. This is so good :33
taking things to another level completely..
Absolute fire, poetry and genius. None better.
Not a lot of people love music as much as Thile.
I have recently picked up learning the banjo!! Chris really encourages me to keep playing to become as good as I can one day!!
Maya Wood I feel exactly the same way.
Condolences
OMG ,I can’t even Think of enough words to express how amazing this young man is on that mandolin , Wow!!!!
I’m smiling the whole time
Thank you! He played this at Pick-Staiger and I haven't been able to find it anywhere. Great tune.
What a babe :')
This guy is great
I can't stop to think that's a Paul Gilbert of mandoline, with playing and humour it's just on spot
"Darker than a select few..." thought it was all funny.
How have I never heard this??? This makes me love him even more he’s fucking amazing
Love it! Thank you for sharing it 🙏
Awesome. Awesome and hilarious.
The harmonic structure despite the piece being a joke piece is actually really interesting
Yes, I love the moment at 3:17 when it goes back into the original key... and I hadn't even realized it had changed keys. Very cool.
I could listen to this guy play all day.
Tin Pan Alley not usually my bag. This is an exception. Thank you!
this man is a FREAK. i love it
This made me laugh so hard! I wish I were that good at one of the instruments I play!
Kvothe at the Eolian.
I would go out with him, his totally a catch
Why isn't he more well known? Beats most modern music!
Perhaps it depends on your musical circles. ;-) He's quite well known, actually.
He’s a legend if you know what’s up. Known as maybe the best musician on earth
This is modern music
I'll bet this was a great song to hear at the show, as a break from the 'real' songs. What fun!
And the thing with funny/parody/joke songs is that if they don't work musically, they will be hard to listen to more than a few times. They have to be SONGS, first. And this works.
Love, love ,love this.
Christ on a toadstool, he is certainly one of the folks who can play too may notes on the mandolin.
absolutely fantastic.
Love you Chris! I miss you!
Good heavens ... Now he's a comedian?!? I quit.
Oh, come on. He just played an entire show of 90% Bach tunes. It's a novelty song. He doesn't have to be completely serious all of the time. Ever heard of John Hartford?
MountainMikeT Methinks you misunderstood the spirit of my comment.
JTNashville
I understood your comment. I LOL'd. Chris is just too talented for 1 human being.
MountainMikeT Wow, how did you not see that was a complement?
Actually, it was a *compliment.
Hey Chris, was it your date or the King of Austria (Amadeus) who told you it was too many notes. P.S. I really groove on the (too?) many notes I've enjoyed from Nickel Creek and beyond.
u know he probably wont read these, right? but yeah, everything this guy shits on turns to gold. love him.
outside of being a musicsl genous, he has a way of
capturing peoples attention with his presents .
So AWESOME
Genius!
I went to my wonderful Collings mandolin after seeing this, and berated it, using every single obscenity I could think of for about 10 minutes. It still didn't sound anything like this!!!
made my day - true talent
Damn, I love this guy.
I'm a fan.
Brilliant!
Awesome !!
This guy!
Smashing.
Great sweet song
Que MARAVILHA!
Crazy!
Damn what a legend
Chris is very funny, but where does he get the time to write this? I LOVE this stuff
really great... you're my role model
genious
Love it. Is there nothing this guy can't do??
Play too many notes.
This is great. I am, however, imagining how this ends if he, unsuspectingly somehow, was out on a date with with Sierra Hull.
"I can't play along... you could!" And she would!
Self-mockery with his own virtuosity, brilliant.
i love you
A new Tom Lehrer is born!
The old Tom Lehrer is still alive! :-)
Guy Faulkes
Oscar Brand then.. . wait.. . nope he's still alive as well. 94- wow.
Thile is God.
...thunderstruck
Holy shit he's good xD
Chris Thile is not of this earth
24 people can't play a song on the mandolin.
ian_pnw 3 years later and only 50 can’t. Impressive!
MANDOLIN HERO!!! :)
I would give all of my future income if there was a game that taught me the mandolin
I saw him play this at a solo gig at St Lukes in London around the same time. I don't think I've ever seen anybody do anything as well as he plays mandolin. I can take or leave his singing tho.
He’s a genius for sure, but I’d still like to k ow who the other 21 or so people were who received MacArthur grants that year.
Holy effing freaking goshdarn smoking cows in a room outplaying dogs at poker and Mahjong.
Chris isn't human with that technique.
LMAO...Yep, he's an idiot.....But I'd sure love to play the mandolin like that !! ..lol...And before you start bashing me because I said he's an idiot...You know I don't really mean that...I've admired Chris since I first heard him play..many, many years ago....Is Nickle Creek back together ?
I got here from Amadeus
Hey, Chris. How about finishing the sonatas and partitas?
Move over Peter Ostrushko! Well done!
Aint to many folks looks like they jizzin there pants when they plays too many notes.....on the mandolin.
I'm trying to learn shadow ridge. That's too many notes 150 bpm!!
50 people cant play too many notes on the mandalin.
He lost me at "G-d Damn"
With all the years hes spent mastering this half-instrument he could've mastered an actual one. just saying
trolling troll is a troll. Feel free to unleash your musical mastery on me....I'll wait......
still waiting
just as I thought...trolling hater.
Jealousy is an ugly thing.
Tard.
i love you